4 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

StreetsBlog USA, 1/19:
 

Trump’s First Budget May Zero Out Federal Transit Funding

 

Donald Trump’s first budget will follow a blueprint for extreme spending cuts laid out by the Heritage Foundation, the Hill reports. That could spell disaster for cities, since Heritage recommends eliminating federal support for transit.

 

Trump’s budget won’t be released for a few more weeks, but according to the Hill, it will draw heavily from a Heritage policy document that calls for taking an axe to conservative targets like the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [PDF]. Of course, Heritage wants to put transit on the chopping block too.

 

Republicans have tried to pass draconian budget measures like this before, and they haven’t succeeded.  .  .  .

 

Continue here.

 

Note:  I had to disable my ad blocker to view this article.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading,June 2017:
 

Trump budget presents 'dichotomy' for rail

 

 

Unveiled last month, President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal-year 2018 federal budget would reduce the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) spending by 12.7 percent. On the chopping block: the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program, funding for Amtrak’s long-distance routes and the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, also known as New Starts.

 

CIG is the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) primary grant program for funding major capital transit investments, including those involving heavy, commuter and light rail, and streetcars. Trump proposes phasing out CIG funding. In FY2018, the program would receive $1.2 billion — about enough to fund all existing Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGAs) and Caltrain’s electrification project.

 

The budget indicates that the FTA won’t be signing any new FFGAs, even for transit projects that received funds under the FY2017 omnibus appropriations bill, according to a budget analysis by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

 

Trump proposes zero funding for the TIGER program and no operating support for Amtrak’s long-distance routes. TIGER is a discretionary grant program that helps fund road, rail, transit and port projects that serve national objectives, according to the USDOT.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

The News Virginian, Waynesboro, VA:

 

OPINION: Pay for my own train ticket? Perish the thought!

• By MORGAN LIDDICK
• Jun 26, 2017

 

So, Amtrak riders are organizing to protest cuts to government subsidies for the sclerotic passenger rail service.

 

SNIP

 

Amtrak’s CEO notes the railroad “covered 94 [percent] of total network operating costs” in fiscal year 2016, but requires funds for the other six percent, plus necessary capital investment and improvement. For these, he insists he must put his hand into taxpayers’ pockets.

 

But the president and Ms. Chao already know the truth: elimination of money-losing services will result in taxpayers not having to shell out $499 million a year or more to subsidize inefficient rail transportation. Forever. 

 

SNIP 

 

Let’s begin by asking this question: what right have I to demand that another pay for most of my train ticket? How about the expenses for my home loan? My car, provided it’s environmentally correct? My solar power system; even my bread and cheese. When we’re done with those, there are untold others, even though our country is twenty trillion dollars in debt. If we continue on this track there’s only one destination, and it’s not a good one. Time to save ourselves by cutting up the politically expedient credit card.

 

No matter the effect on Amtrak.

 

 

Morgan Liddick lives in Stuarts Draft, VA.

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 10/2/17:

 

NARP: Amtrak long-distance trains boost local, national economies

 

Ending funding of Amtrak long-distance routes would disproportionately affect low income households in rural communities across the country, according to a report released today by the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP).

 

NARP's "Dismantling a National Transportation Network" report was issued in response to President Donald Trump's fiscal-year 2018 budget proposal earlier this year that called for cutting funding to certain long-distance routes in Amtrak's national network.

 

The report "is a sharp rebuke to recent budget proposals from the White House and members of Congress that would have negatively affected the local economies for 45 percent of American taxpayers," NARP officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.

 

NARP press release:  Economic Report: Killing Amtrak Would Cost U.S. Billions, Hurt Rural Americans

[CNJRoss]

Transportation Today, 10/3/17:
 

Cutting Amtrak would negatively affect nearly half of all Americans

 

 

Cutting Amtrak would negatively affect 45 percent of Americans, a report by the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) said.

 

The report, called Dismantling a National Transportation Network, found that increased federal funding for Amtrak spurs economic growth in communities served by the network.

 

The proposed White House budget cuts would disproportionately affect rural communities while maintaining service in wealthier, more populous areas. More than 25 percent of passengers use long-distance routes to travel to work while 61 percent use it to visit family or friends.

 

“There are 220 communities in 23 states of so-called ‘flyover country’ that would pay the economic price when trains disappear from their towns and cities,” NARP President and CEO Jim Mathews said. “But, if we have the foresight to invest in middle America, the whole nation would reap the benefits.”

 

Continue here.